Oops...I {Art}ed!

Happy Armed Forces Day and a giveaway

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. 

~Elmer Davis

On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace sepearate Army, Navy and Air Force Days.  The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department --- the Department of Defense.

~U.S. Department of Defense

In celebration of Armed Forces day, I am giving away another necklace.  I know, I'm getting kinda crazy with these right?!  To enter, just comment on this post.  The randomnly selected winner will be announced on Monday.  Good luck to everyone! 

Have you voted today?  Help me break into the Top 25 Military Family Blogs.  I really appreciate your support.

To all my brothers and sisters serving in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, Happy Armed Forces Day!

last day of Pre-K and a page...

Look out world!  The photo above from Tahlia and Isaiah's last drop-off for Pre-K, which was yesterday.  These two little hellions will be starting Kindergarden in August.  What's with me having to swallow a jagged little pill every time one of our kids reach a milestone?  The pills are getting harder to digest, especially when they come and go.  I don't want them to grow up!  Okay, really I do...but that's besides the point!  lol.

What do you think of the photo?  Isaiah often asks if he can take a picture when he sees me snapping away.  I think I have a little photog in the making.  He just needs to learn not to cut off people's heads.  He took this with my HTC EVO, so I am impressed.

I created another page using this month's "Now and Zen" kit from Scraps of Darkness.  What I love most about this kit, is the beautiful foiled papers from Christine Adolph's 'Sakura' collection.

I am still loving the Donna Salazar's Smooch Spritz from Clear Snap.  I sprayed 'River Mossy' on both the alphabets and the swan from Dusty Attic.

Oohh, I love that gunmetal effect, don't you?  These are my new favorite spritzs! If you don't have them, you need them!  I ordered mine from sb.com a few weeks ago.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Before I sign off, I want to remind everyone that I am trying to break into the Top 25 Military Family Blogs.  I would really appreciate your vote!  You can vote daily until May 25th. Have a great weekend!

need a photographer for a homecoming? find one on OPLOVE

There are dozens of non-profit organizations out there that support our Armed Forces and there are only a small few that I endorse on my blog.  As I was checking in on FB and twitter this evening, I noticed that there were a couple of long and overdue homecomings.  As I read everyone's statuses, I was reminded of OPLOVE.

OPERATION LOVE REUNITED is it's fullname and it's a 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization.  All proceeds go directly to running the organization that supports military families.  Still confused?  Here's a excerpt form their website explaining who they are,

The last thing on your mind when your wife or husband arrives home after a 4 to 18 month tour, is capturing all this love– on film.
Most people are so overwhelmed with emotions they forget to simply point and shoot the camera they are grasping of their child’s first hug,
or that single tear of relief from a mother being able to hold her twenty year old son again.
With the help of Operation: Love ReUnited and local photographers near your base, you can.

What I love most about OPLOVE is that it gives photographers a chance to help military families by doing something they love most...photography!  Whether you're looking for a photographer to shoot your next homecoming or you're a budding photographer wanting to contribute to a great cause...this is the one.

Once I hone my photography skills and get my lenses, I would love to volunteer my time to shoot homecomings.  I just need to make sure I pack a tissue box in my camera bag.  These events always make me tear up.

Giveaway Winners Announced

Happy Monday Everyone!  I just wanted to make a quick post and announce the winners of my little giveaway.  Welcome to all my new readers and thanks so much for posting, it's nice to connect with other military bloggers.  :)

Without further delay...

Air Force - Lacey

Army - Megan Writes

Navy - The Young Retiree

Marine Corps - Ines

All winners, please send your snail mail information to mestisa7@gmail.com so I can get your necklaces in the mail.  For those interested, I plan on keeping my Etsy store stocked with these and may have another giveaway in a few weeks.  Here's the link for my little shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/mestisa.  Have a great week!

Mission Accomplished?! and Military Spouse/Moms Giveaway

Thank you Twitter and Facebook for keeping me up to date on current events.  lol.  I almost missed President Obama's announcement.  It still sounds too good to be true.  After a decade, we finally get Osama bin Laden.  It would be ignorant of anyone to think that the world will be all rainbows and unicorns now that he is dead.  Like that of a hydra, you cut off one head and two grow back in it's place.  Please continue to keep members of our Armed Forces in your hearts and prayers.

On a lighter note, Military Spouse Appreciation and Mother's Day is this weekend.  In 1984, President Reagan designated the Friday before Mother's Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day.  Please see the post below for my 'represent your service giveaway'.  Have a great week! :)